Method and apparatus for making wrench sockets



Au 10,1926. 1.595.588 r w. l. Tu rTLs H "SOCKETS METHODAND APPARATUS FQR MAKING wasuc Filed Sept. 30 1922 Patented Aug. 10, 1926.

UNITED STATES WALTER I. TUTTLE, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

METHQD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING WRENCH SOCKETS.

Application filed September 36, 1922. Serial No. 591,511.

This invention relates to amethod and apparatus for giving a body ofv metal a predetermined shape and, more particularly, to a method and apparatus for forming wrench sockets.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a simple and practical method for forming wrench sockets out of commercially obtainable bar stock. Another obj ect'of this invention is to provide an art for forming articles out of bar stock which may be readily and inexpensively carried on and with dependable and reliable results.' Another object is to provide practical and dependable apparatus for producing articles of predetermined shape out of commercial stock which will be of simple construction, reliable action, and capable of high speed of production. Other objects will be in part obvious or in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, arrangements of parts and in the several steps and relation and order of each of the same to one or more of the others all as will be illustratively described herein, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawin S in which is shown a possible embodiment of the mechanical features of this invention,

Figure l is a perspective view of a gripping die member;

Figure 2 is a. plan view, partly diagrammatic, of the-apparatus in one stage of its operation; a

Figures 3 and 4 are similar views showing successively certain'of the remaining steps of operation; and

Figure 5 is a perspective view of an example of the finished product.

Similar reference characters refer to simi lar parts throughout.

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to Fig. 2, I have shown a pair of members 10 and 11 substantially symmetrically formed and adapted to be moved to ward each other in the direction of the arrows by any suitable mechanism. It'may at this point be noted that the several-parts above mentioned and to be hereinafter described in greater detail may be actuated by any suitable mechanism, the latter not be-' ing shown in the drawings in order to simplify the disclosure and to avoid complexity of" illustration 1 and description. It may further be noted that these detailed actuat ing mechanisms of themselves form no part of this invention and hence are not shown 01'- described in detail.

In Fig. 1 of the drawings I have shown in perspective the member 10 above referred to, it being understood that the member 11 with which the member 10 coacts is of substantially symmetrical construction. It will be seen that the member 10 comprises a suitable metallic block of preferably heavy and rigid construction and is provided at its one end with a gripping portion, generally indicated at 12, this gripping portion being provided with the recess 13. The recess 13 of each member 10 and 11 is shaped to correspond substantially to the cross section of one half of the bar intended to be received and gripped between the members 10 and 11. As illustrated in Fig. l, the reces's 13 is substantially rectangular in cross section and hence corresponds in section to the section of one half of the,bar 14 of square cross section which is intended to be operated upon. Where the bar 14, which may be of any suitable commercial stock, is of square section, it may be desirable to place fillets 15 in the angles of the recesses 13 so that when the members 10 and 11 are moved together to grip the bar 14 within the recesses 13 of the gripping portions 12, the sharp orners of the bar 14 are conveniently beveled.

At the other end of the members 10 and 11 each is provided with a substantially semi-cylindrical recess 16 so that when the members 10 and 11 are moved together the semi-cylindrical wall portions 16 form a substantially cylindrical confining wall.

- The bar 14, illustratively set forth as of' square cross section, is first positioned between the separated members 10 and 11 with a portion of the bar 14, indicated in dotted lines as 14*, substantially opposite the recesses 13 of the gripping portions 12. Another portion of the bar 14, indicated at 14 it will be noted extends inwardly or to the right, as viewed in Fig. 2, between the members 10 and 11. A die member 17, preferably of hexagonal cross section and with a converging end portion 17 and rigidly secured to the movable member 18 by which the die member 17 may be moved to the left, is shown in Fig. 2 in withdrawn position, that is, in its maximum position toward the right. The die member 17 may thus if derestricted as to How.

siredconveniently serve to limit the length of the portion 14 of the bar 14 which is inserted between the members 10 and 11 for purposes more clearly hereinafter set forth.

The members 10 and 11 are thereupon moved toward each other in the direction .of the arrows shown in Fig. 2, whereupon the portion 14 surrounded by the cylin-- drical wall-forming portions 16 but unseveral parts is shown in Fig. 3 of the drawm s.

lhe die member 17 is thereupon moved to the left, that is, in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 3. The die member 17' 1s thus moved against and into the free and unrestricted portion 14 of the bar 14 causing the metal thereof to flow into the space between the cylindrical wall portions 16 and the die member 17. In Fig. 4 the die member 17 is shown in its ultimate innermost position, the wall portions 16 surrounding the'portion 14 of the bar intercepting the flowing metal and restricting it to give it an ultimate contour of predetermined shape, herein illustratively shown as cylindrical. The die member 17 thus leaves a recess in the thus-formed portion 14 which is also of predetermined shape and herein illustratively shown as hexagonal.

The above actions having been completed, a shearing member 19 mounted adjacent the coacting members 10 and 11 and normally held in the position shown in Fig. 3, is thereupon moved toward the exterior portion of the bar 14, the movement taking place in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 4 to shear the bar 14 off adjacent the restricted and gripped portion 14.

The members 10 and 1]. are thereupon separated to permit the finished article to lbe withdrawn and the shearing member 19 withdrawn to place the apparatus in condition for succeeding like operations.

In Fig; 5 is shown in perspective the finished article in the form of a wrench socket and it will be noted that it comprises a shank portion 20 substantially similar in cross section to the original bar 14 and having its. corners 20 suitably beveled, this action having taken place during the gripping of the bar as hereinbefore described.

10 and 11. At.

This relation of the- It will be understood, however, that the shank shape y suitably shaping the coacting pprtion 20 may be given a different gripping portions 12 of the members lO and lland is illustratively shown herein as being square in cross, section, the shank portion 20 being readily adaptable for securing the wrench socket in any desired manner to any suitable handle or other tool. The free and unrestricted portion 14 of the bar 14 has been given an exterior contour substantially cylindrical and has been formed into the main socket ortion' 21, the interior of which is recesse at 21 the recess being shown as hexagonal in cross section and conforming in shape to that of the die member 17.

The length of the free portion 14*, the

metal of which is caused to flow as hereinbefore described, is conveniently determined by limiting the depth of insertion of the bar 14 between the separated members 10 and 11 by the die mimber 17 itself. The amount of metal thus available for flow may thus be conveniently governed according to the particular conditions to be met and I have herein shown the entering die member 17 as a simple and convenient means for so adjusting the amount of metal in the free and unrestricted portion 14 of the bar, where such an arrangement is desire It will thus be seen that there has been provided in this invention a simple and practical art and apparatus for producing articles of predetermined shape and principally for producing wrench sockets. It

will be noted that the resultant product is of rugged and rigid construction, well adapted to meet the varying requirements of hard practical use, and that the art herein described may be conveniently and inexpensively carried on. Moreover, the art and apparatus herein provided make possible the manufacture in -an exceedingly practical, rapid and inexpensive manner 0 the desired article out of readily obtainable commercial bar stock. It will thus be seen that the several objects of this invention, as well as many advantages, are successfully achieved. v

As many possible embodiments may be made of the mechanical features of the above invention and as the art herein described might be varied in various parts, all without departing from the scope of the invention, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim as my invention: a

1. The herein described art of making wrench sockets which consists in gripping a portion of a bar of metal of polygonal cross-section and surrounding an adjoining unrestricted portion of said bar by'fconpoint to prevent its entry into said gripped portion of the bar, said gripped portion thereby forming a solid shank for the Wrench socket.

2. In apparatus for forming wrench sockets and the like, in combination, a pair of gripping members recessed to receive and grip therebetween a bar of predetermined cross section with a portion of said bar extending beyond said gripping members,

\ means adapted to be moved to substantially encompass said freely extending portion of said bar and to form about said bar a restricting chamber of greater cross section than that of said bar, and a die member having a cross section substantially the shape of a nut adapted to be moved against and into saidfree portion of said bar and into said encompassing means to displace the metal of said portion and to cause it to flow into the space between said die member and said encompassing means.

3. In apparatus for forming wrench sockets and the like, in combination, a pair of gripping members adapted to be moved toward each other recessed to receive and grip therebetween a bar of predetermined cross section with a free portion of said bar extending beyond saidgripping member, means associated with each of said gripping members and adapted when moved together to surround said free portion of said bar with confining walls spaced therefrom, a die member having a cross section substantially theishape of a nut adapted to be moved against and into said tree portion of said bar to displace'the metal of said portion and cause it to flow into the space between itself and the confining walls, and

means for shearing said bar adjacent said gripplng members.

4. In apparatus for forming wrench sockets and the like, in combination, a pair of gripping members adapted to be moved toward each other recessed to receive and grip therebetween a bar of square cross section, means associated with each of said gripping members adapted when moved together to form about said free portion of said bar a substantially cylindrical confining wall spaced from said bar, a die member of hexagonal cross section adapted to be moved against and into said free portion to displace the metal thereof and to cause it to flow into the space between said die member and said cylindrical confining wall, and means for shearing said bar adjacent the gripped portion thereof.

5. In apparatus for forming wrench sockets, in combination, a pair of members mov able toward and away from each other and recessed to form together a portion adapted,

to grip a piece of bar stock and having ad jacent said gripping portion a recess oi greater diameter and round, cross-section, said gripped bar stock being adapted in position between said two members to project into said recess and toward the open end thereof, a die member having a cross-section substantially the shape of a nut and having a pointed end facing toward said recess, said die member being adapted to be forced into said recess and against the end of said bar stock therein to displace the metal of said bar stock, said metalflowing around said die and forming in said recess a wrench socket having outer rounded walls corresponding to the wall of said recess and inner Walls corresponding to the shape of said die, said gripped portion of said bar stock forming a shank portion for said wrench socket, and means movable at the side of said gripping portions remote frorfi said recess for cutting off said bar stoc day of In testimony whereof, I. have signed my 7 

